Big cities, small towns – there’s a Nutcracker near you
by Rob Howard
Associate Editor
The Nutcracker is such a holiday staple, Devon Carney, the Artistic Director of the Kansas City Ballet, says, because, “It’s the holidays. It’s a chance to celebrate family.” And a chance to join together with the family, and avoid the hustle and bustle of the season for a few hours. “To let the holiday go and sit back and enjoy.”
The Nutcracker, a timeless holiday classic, follows Clara Stahlbaum and her Nutcracker from an extravagant Christmas party to a fierce battle with the evil Mouse King and his mouse army, then on a magical journey through the Land of Snow and Kingdom of Sweets.
Most of the action takes place as Clara dreams after the guests have departed. There is an army of mice that are defeated by an army of gingerbread soldiers. After the battle, the Nutcracker is turned into a handsome prince, who leads Clara through the various mythical lands with dances representing each of them.
The trick is to keep the audience engaged throughout. Carney, describing the all-new Nutcracker that premiered last year, says, “I was intent on creating a work that would entertain the whole family from start to finish.”
Carney designed the choreography for the new production. He wants a ballet that is, “Entertaining for young boys, young girls, the parents, the grandparents.”
There are challenges in any production. Kansas City’s new version took over 18 months to design and bring to production. Another challenge is the number of dancers, many of them children. Carney says there are 106 parts for children in his version.
Melissa Schoenfeld, the Executive Artistic Director for Ft. Smith’s Western Arkansas Ballet agrees. “There are 100 to 125 cast members,” she says. “We have open auditions for kids six and up – if they have experience they are eligible to audition.” She says,“We have great, incredible volunteers.” This is the 31st year for Ft. Smith’s Nutcracker.
There is a variety of productions. Western Arkansas’ version is “very traditional, and let’s us use the kids from this area.”
Carney intentionally moved his version to vibrant colors, and changed the Kingdom of Sweets from a series of dances, to a journey, giving context and different elements to each scene in Act II.
Other companies go in a completely different direction. In The Nutcracker, a Kansas Ballet, presented by the Lawrence, Kansas, Arts Center, the ballet is moved from Victorian Europe to Civil War era Lawrence. Hanan Misko, the Artistic Director for the production talked about including historic Lawrence families in the script, including a role that might be controversial elsewhere.
“John Brown [the anti-slavery hero who tried to start a slave rebellion] is an important figure in Kansas history,” he said. “An important symbolic figure in the production as well as the community, to represent a specific thing. His family and his activism are a big part of Lawrence history.” Act II has Laura exploring Kansas through the post-war era. The Nutcracker is mostly referred to, and is only seen near the end, as a returning officer from the Union Army.
“Instead of a classical sound, Tchaikovsky’s music is performed by the Free State Liberation Orchestra, a bluegrass orchestra with mandolins, percussion, bass, pretty much a full orchestra,” says Misko.
There is something in every Nutcracker production for everyone. Entertainment, an introduction to ballet or inspiration to children to take up ballet. Carney says, “What’s exciting is to be in the audience when people start to go home. Hearing ‘My son was on the edge of his seat the whole time.’ There it is right there, if I can entertain a young boy, or a young girl, and keep them interested well, Hallelujah.”
Nutcracker performances in The Gayly’s region
Arkansas
Fayetteville - Nov. 25-27 - Canada Royal Winnipeg Ballet – The Nutcracker – Walton Art Center Baum Walker Hall – www.waltonartscenter.org
Ft. Smith - Dec. 10-11 - Ft. Smith Western Arkansas Ballet - ArcBest Corporation Performing Arts Center - www.waballet.org
Bentonville - Dec. 3-4 - NW Arkansas Conservatory of Classical Ballet - Arend Arts Center – www.nwaballet.com
Little Rock - Dec. 9-11 - Ballet Arkansas - Robinson Center - www.tickets.arkansassymphony.org or (501) 666-1761
Kansas
Topeka - Dec. 9-11 - Ballet Midwest – Topeka Performing Arts Center - www.ticketmaster.com or www.balletmidwest.net/
Wichita - Dec. 16-18 - Wichita Ballet - Century II Performing Arts – (316) 303-8100 or www.wichitatix.com
Lawrence - Dec. 9-18 - The Nutcracker, A Kansas Ballet - Lawrence Arts Center – (785) 843-2787
Missouri
Kansas City - Dec. 3-24 - Kansas City Ballet- Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts – (816) 931-8993 or www.kcballet.org/
Springfield - Dec. 16-19 - Springfield Ballet - Landers Theatre - (417) 869-1334, or www.springfieldlittletheatre.org
Oklahoma
Oklahoma City - Dec. 10-20 - Oklahoma City Ballet – Oklahoma City Civic Center Music Hall – (405) 848-8637 or (405) 297-2264, or www.myticketoffice.com
Oklahoma City - Nov, 25 – Moscow Ballet - Rose State College Hudiburg Chevrolet Center
Midwest City – www.okcciviccenter.com or (405) 297-2264
Tulsa - Dec. 10-23 - Tulsa Ballet – Tulsa Performing Arts Center – Chapman Music Hall – www.TulsaPAC.com or (918) 596-7111
Texas Panhandle
Amarillo - Dec. 9-11 – Lone Star Ballet - Amarillo Civic Center, www.panhandletickets.com or (806) 378-3096
There are Nutcracker productions throughout The Gayly’s region, in large cities and smaller towns. Take some time out of the holiday rush, and take in the majesty of Tchaikovsky’s music and the magic energy of the dance.
Copyright The Gayly - 11/20/2016 @ 7:54 a.m. CDT.